Volunteers, items needed for homeless count

The Homeless Point-in-Time Count is a one day, unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in the county. The count helps determine the extent of homelessness in the community and the needs of those who have no homes.

Volunteers will participate by helping out with the count on Wednesday, July 31. They will count in groups of 5 throughout the city for two shifts, 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. and 12 a.m. – 4 a.m. Volunteers will be canvassing the city in groups of 4-5, looking behind buildings, under bridges and overpasses, in abandoned trailers for unsheltered homeless persons.

Organizers are seeking the public’s help to assemble bags of necessities to hand-out to homeless men and women. Items needed include socks, toothpaste, tooth brushes, small bottles of lotion, Chap Stick, canned foods or pre-packaged food.

Volunteers are also needed to conduct the count. Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

The command post for the count is The Bethesda Center, 930 N. Patterson Ave.